{"id":6097,"date":"2026-08-04T06:06:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T06:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6097"},"modified":"2026-08-04T06:06:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T06:06:25","slug":"its-time-for-the-saudis-to-put-up-or-shut-up-on-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6097","title":{"rendered":"It’s time for the Saudis to put up \u2014 or shut up on Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Saudi Arabia reportedly convinced President Donald Trump to call off the planned massive attack on Iran over the weekend; will the kingdom now live up to the long-term obligations that ask implies?<\/p>\n

Read more Saudis gravitate toward Middle East basket cases when it should join US\u2019 fight against Iran<\/a><\/p>\n

That is: If Riyadh wants to help shape US policy, it needs to act as a full-fledged US ally, and deliver<\/em> \u2014 whether by somehow getting Iran to truly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and denuclearize, or by committing major financial and military resources to a serious military campaign that forces Tehran\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

Trump said he paused the strikes last Saturday because the kingdom and other Gulf states asked him to: Per Saudi media, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman urged the prez to prioritize \u201cdialogue to de-escalate tensions\u201d and \u201cprevent a wider conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet it\u2019s obvious Tehran doesn\u2019t want <\/em>\u201cto de-escalate tensions\u201d and is certain that threatening \u201ca wider conflict\u201d is how it can win in negotiations what it can\u2019t on the battlefield.<\/p>\n

Heck, Iran claimed Monday that it\u2019s not even planning to hold talks, let alone agree to a deal.<\/p>\n

Trump himself fumed that \u201cIranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous!\u201d<\/p>\n

If the Saudi ruler wants Washington to stand down anyway, then he needs to put a whole lot more skin in the game.<\/p>\n

We get it: The prince fears Iran will retaliate against key Saudi sites if US forces strike power plants or other vital infrastructure in Iran; other Gulf states share similar worries.<\/p>\n

But the prolonged holdoff on serious strikes even though the diplomatic dance never goes anywhere only prolongs the misery \u2014 for the region and <\/em>the world.<\/p>\n

Read more Hero civilian says In-N-Out shooter\u2019s \u2018bravado immediately crumbled\u2019 after he fired back<\/a><\/p>\n

MBS surely doesn\u2019t want to see Iran get nukes or control the Strait, charging protection money; the only other option is sustained, forceful military and financial pressure.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Riyadh has <\/em>gotten tougher: Back in May, it denied US forces the use of Saudi airspace and bases to defend ships in the Strait; last week, it reportedly joined in (limited) US strikes.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the way to go: The Saudis can\u2019t keep sheltering under the US security blanket that\u2019s protected the kingdom for decades.<\/p>\n

The sane Saudi response to Iranian threats isn\u2019t appeasement but stronger deterrence, defense \u2014 and even offense.<\/em><\/p>\n

All the Gulf nations will benefit greatly from a defanged Iran and a fully reopened Strait; it\u2019s in their interest to step up and join the US mission.<\/p>\n

MBS needs to start talking out of just one side of his mouth, or he\u2019s not worth listening to.<\/p>\n

Read more Yankees call up George Lombard Jr., send down Anthony Volpe in telling move after trade deadline<\/a><\/p>\n

Lead, follow or get out of the way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If Saudi Arabia wants to help shape US policy, it needs act as a full-fledged US ally, and deliver \u2014 by somehow getting Iran to truly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and denuclearize or committing resources to a serious military campaign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6096,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"yoast_head":"\nIt's time for the Saudis to put up \u2014 or shut up on Iran - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6097\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"It's time for the Saudis to put up \u2014 or shut up on Iran - 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